Tourism Industry in St. Lucia

Narrator: Tourism is the fastest growing sector of the economy here. This
being a boom in hotel and resort development has declined into
natural beauty of St. Lucia is marketed abroad.

Walter was one of those who left traditional trades behind to work
in a hotel.

Walter: I haven’t been involved in the tourism industry as I'm right now, its
given me a great appreciation for what is natural and what is in St.
Lucia. I'm proud to work in here. For example, the -- I wake up
every morning and I see the -- and to me it just another tall piece of
stone. Now what -- when I see, what it’s worth in terms of how the
tourists, you know, they look at the peak -- and what it’s worth.
The breath taking part of it then I get to appreciate what’s existing
right now. And now I look at a tree not just a tree but something
that contributes to keeping the air clean and part of a total
environmental heritage and stuff like that.

So it does make me look at the country in a different light. Also
being in the tourism industry one does not have any time to be a
harsh person. You have to be a friendly person so it does refine me
in a way to be more socializing, more accommodating and it does
make me a more friendly sort of person because in my line of
work, you have to be friendly. You have to be smiling, you have to
be interacting. See that has been that for me.

Also financially, the tourism industry has been if you get me, I'm
able to support my family on what I get in terms of my salary. I
think also some other changes is that we -- in growing up, I was
used to -- in the morning, having breakfast from the leftovers from
the following night. And now that was sort of disappeared. It’s
like, in the morning everybody wants wheaties and corn pops and
coco pops and stuff like that. So to an extent, our diet, it has that
changed quite a bit.

I think that’s we call the advent of television. Mostly I’d say right
now, 85% of all the houses on the island that you have televisions
and what you see are basically American and foreign television
and actually we have adapted to some of the American way of life.
So in terms of educating us, it has been to advantage but in terms
of our culture and what we believe as our morals as a small
country, it has done some damage in that area.

Narrator: The number of tourists coming to St. Lucia doubles the island’s
population annually. But the huge influx of people strained St.
Lucia’s infrastructure.

Walter: Sometimes the -- what has to be rationed. As we develop is there’s
a greater demand on these utilities so at times we go to a few days
without wanting.

Narrator: A new dam has been built to meet the growing demand for water
but the forest clearance on the hills means it’s silting up.

The hotel where Walter works was built on St. Lucia’s most
famous natural spot between the course of two ancient volcanoes
known as the Pitons.

Despite the efforts of the earnest to make the buildings blend with
the natural habitat, developments like these change the landscape.
But their attempts to minimize disruption are more than just
cosmetic. Here, they’ve built their own sewage treatment plant. In
theory, this should prevent damage to the marine life around. The
aim is to fertilize the soil for growing vegetables in the hotel’s own
grounds using the treated sewage affluent.

Walter: This then shows that no sewage goes into the sea. What in there is
treated right here through a mechanical system and that’s what we
use to irrigate the whole property. So even during the hot season,
you’d find it looking very, very green. That’s because of the
irrigation system that they have put in place from the sewage. Also
this is a precaution that’s necessary to keep the environment
looking friendly and safe and it’s very costly based while working.

Narrator: Despite the efforts made by the hotel developers to protect their
natural surroundings, some argue places like this should never be
developed in the first place at any cost. And already, there are
plans to extend the hotel complex.

Much of St. Lucia’s coastline is under threat with demands from
would-be hotels and leisure centers. The question is, where to draw
the line when they risk destroying the very things that draw the
tourists here in the first place.


Walter: You have to make just an amount of sacrifice if you want to
develop a country. For example, Sufre, which is the small town
which is the most picturesque town, it could be the most
picturesque town in the Caribbean. There’s the need for like the
docking facilities there. And if you are to go to that place you
would definitely have to destroy some of the marine vegetations,
some of the marine life. And I think this is one project that would
be well worth the environmental impact. I think it’s well worth it.

Narrator: Andre is another who makes his living from the tourist industry.
He sees the environmental impact of tourism at firsthand as he
takes his clients on underwater trips.

Andre: Once permission has been given to develop and it is much easier
for these individuals to come back in and further develop these
areas.

Narrator: The changes of the growing tourism trade is making to St. Lucia
admired elsewhere in the Caribbean. For some, the changes in
development of the island are inevitable and are for the good. For
others, they need to be checks and the balance achieved.